Electric Bath



M. HOWARD.

ELECTRIC BATH.

APPLICATION mw rEB.25. mm.

1 1 93,0 1 8. Patented Aug. 1, 1911i.

OFFICE.

MENTOR HOWARD, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

ELECTRIC BATH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

Application filed February 25, 1915. Serial No. 10,536.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MENTOR HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Worth, in the county of Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Baths, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric bath apparatus, the primary object of my invention being the provision of electrodes of novel form adapted to be immersed in thewater of the bath and so constructed as to cause a complete and uniform passage of current throughout the entire body of the water between the electrodes.

A further object of my invention consists in providing shields for the electrodes and electrode and shield supporting brackets of novel type, the brackets being capable of being clamped to the edge of any bath tub of usual structure.

In this connection, a still further object of my invention consists in the provision of an improved form of clamp for attaching the electrodes to the tub.

With these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and then specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form a part of this application.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional form of bath tub, showing my improved apparatus in place; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the electrodes and its supporting bracket and shield; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through the shield on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, a portion of the bracket being also shown in section; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the other electrode employed, in this instance the electrode being shown from the rear; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the clamps employed in securing the electrode carrying brackets to the tub; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bath tub with a modified form of electrode applied thereto. v

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indi cated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

In order to insure a clear and accurate understanding of my invention, I have illust-rated my improved apparatus in connec tion with a conventional form of bath tub 10 having an outwardly and downwardly turned flanged upper edge 11. Primarily, my improved apparatus includes electrodes 12 and 13 adapted to be positioned at opposite ends of the tub and a current generatlng device 1 1 connected in an open circuit with the electrodes.

Each electrode includes a transversely curved, substantially semi-circular shield 14:, preferably formed of suitable metal, such as galvanized iron, and suitably enameled to give a neat, finished appearance. Each of these shields, along its lower straight or diametric edge, is provided with a plurality of spaced perforations 15 and each shield is supported by a substantially T-shaped bracket, the shield of the electrode 12 being supported by a bracket 16, while that of the electrode 13 is supported by a bracket 17. These brackets are identical in construction, with the exception that the stem or upright portion of the latter bracket extends at an obtuse angle to the base portion, while that of the bracket 16 extends at right angles. Each stem is provided at its upper end with a laterally directed terminal 18 adapted to engage over the edge of the tub when the electrode is in place. The shields are secured to the brackets by means of spacer bolts 19 or other suitable fastening devices of such a nature as to hold the shield spaced in advance of the base portion and stem of the bracket, the base portion of which, in effect, forms the electrode proper, as will be later explained.

Each base portion of each bracket is provided with a plurality of perforations or openings 20, each of which is in alinement with one of the perforations of the adjacent shield and projecting outwardly through these perforations are discharge contacts or points 21, the current being discharged from the points of one electrode, through the openings of the shield, through the water and through the openings of the shield of the other electrode to the points of the other bracket, as will be later more fully explained.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 3, the discharge points terminate substantially in the plane of the rear face of the shield. Each bracket is provided adjacent its upper end with a binding post 22 and the brackets are preferably tubular in form to receive a plurality of conductor wires 23 which lead from this binding post, one to each of the contacts or points 21. It will of course be understood that the brackets are preferably formed of the same metal as the shields and enameled in a like manner. The contacts or points, however, are preferably formed of brass or copper and, of course, are free of any enamel or other coating in order to freely permit the passage of current from them to the water.

As a means for clamping the upper ends of the brackets to the edge of the tub, I provide a pair of clamps, indicated as a whole by the numeral 24. Each of these clamps includes a body portion 25 having a threaded bore, whereby the body portion in effect forms a nut and diverging arms 26 curved to form hooks to engage beneath the out turned flange of the edge of the tub. A clamp screw 27, having a suitable head 28, is threaded through each of the clamps and each clamp screw engages a clamping head 29 arcuate in shape to bear over the free ends of the brackets when the latter are rested upon the edge of the tub. These clamp plates 29 may be free of attachment to the clamp screws 27, but preferably have swivel connection with such screws.

In applying the electrodes to the tub, the electrode 12 is positioned and clamped in place at one end of the tub and the electrode 13 at the other end of the tub, the latter be ing clamped in that end of the tub which is inclined to the base, while the former is clamped to that end which is perpendicular to the tub, as shown in Fig. 2. It will of course be understood that when used with tubs, both ends of which are perpendicular, two electrodes similar to the electrode 12 will be employed. The brackets are of such length that the lower portions of the shields, and consequently the contact points 21, will be below the water level in the tub when in use. Suitable conductor wires 30 and 31 lead from the binding post 22 of the electrodes to opposite terminals of the source of electrical energy 14 and, with the wires 23 and water in the tub, form a closed circuit for such source of energy. In Fig. 1, I have illustrated, diagrammatically, the source of energy as constituting a storage battery 32 connected in a circuit 33 with the primary Winding of an induction coil 34, the wires 30 and 31 being connected to the terminals of the secondary winding of this coil. A manually operable switch, of any suitable type 35,is included in the circuit 33.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing, the method of employing my improved electric bath apparatus will be readily understood and no further description is necessary. It should be noted that because of the branch wires 23 and contact points 21, the apparatus in effect produces a plurality of parallel branch circuits through the water contained in the tub and for this reason, the current passes through the water with remarkable uniformity. Of course, any desired number of discharge points or contacts 21 may be employed with each electrode, but as a rule, I prefer to use ten or twelve such points to each electrode. However, in any instance, each electrode should have the same number of points as the electrode with which it is to be used.

In Fig. (3 I have illustrated a modified form of electrode in which the bracket 37 is formed as an extension of the shield 38, its upper or free end being curved as shown at 39 to hook about the outturned edge of the tub. Both the shield and bracket are formed of relatively heavy, preferably resilient metal, enameled to render it a non-conductor and neat in appearance. The lower edge of the shield is bent rearwardly and upwardly in spaced relation to the body portion, as shown at 40 and a metallic strip 41 is positioned between the shield and portion 40, being insulated from such parts by strips 42 of rubber, fiber or other suitable insulative material. This metallic strip 41 carries the contact or discharge points 43 and the strip is secured in place by bolts 44 and nuts 45, or other suitable fastening device, the openings formed in the strip 41 being provided with insulating bushings 46 in order that no current shall pass to the bolts. One end of the feed wire 47 is secured directly to thestrip 41 and the other end is passed forwardly through the upper portion of the bracket 37 and led to the source of electrical energy.

It will of course be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the specific details of construction shown, as various changes, such as the provision of different forms of clamps for securing the electrodes to the tub, may be made, without in the slightest degree departing from the spirit of my in vention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An electric bath apparatus including electrodes in circuit with each other, each electrode having a plurality of discharge or receiving points, and shields for the electrodes provided with openings in alinement with the points.

2. An electric bath apparatus including electrodes in circuit with each other, each electrode having a plurality of discharge or receiving points, shields for the electrodes provided with openings in alinement with the points, and supporting brackets for the electrodes.

3. An electric bath apparatus including a shield provided with an upwardly curved extension to engage over the edge of a tub, the lower portion of the shield being rear- 20 shield provided at its upper end wardly and upwardly bent in spaced relation to the body and the shield being formed above its lower end with a series of openings, a contact plate secured between the spaced portions of the shield and insulated from the shield, means for supplying current to the plate, and a plurality of contact points carried by the plate and disposed one at the rear of each opening of the shield.

4. An electric bath apparatus including a shield provided with a curved extension to engage over the edge of a tub, the lower portion of the shield being formed with a series of openings, a contact plate carried by and insulated from the shield, and a plurality of contact points carried by the plate and disposed one at the rear of each opening of the shield.

5. An electric bath apparatus including a with a Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the hooked terminal to engage over the edge of a tub, the lower portion of the shield being rearwardly and upwardly bent and the body of the shield being formed above its lower end with a series of openings, a contact plate positioned between the body of the shield and its upbent lower end, strips of insulating material positioned between the faces of the plate and the shield and its extension, fastening means passed through the plate and shield, and a plurality of contact points carried by the plate and disposed one in alineinent with each opening of the shield.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MENTOR HOWARD. 1,. 5.

Witnesses:

C. F. CAs'rnLLo, B. N. ISAACS.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

